Ron Paul: Why I Didn’t Run as an Independent

Transcript

Interviewer:Ron Paul is packing up his Washington condo this week, preparing to sell it and move back to Texas for good. Paul is retiring from Congress, and last week he gave a farewell address from the House floor, repeating the small-government sermon he first shouted in obscurity, and then injected into the national debate. With his time in Washington DC coming to a close, I sat down with Paul for a kind of ‘exit interview’.

Question: You’ve been here on-and-off since 1976, what would you say the three most damaging special interests are in Washington?

Ron Paul: You know, I see so many, and they’re all the same.

Interviewer: I know, but you much have some that really bother you.

Ron Paul: I think the military-industrial complex is very bad.

Interviewer: That was No.1.

Ron Paul: I don’t know if they should be in order.

Interviewer: Okay, don’t give them in order.

Ron Paul: Another one would be the banking system: how the Federal Reserve works and how it helps big banks. The interest that I would like to see, and that I worked on, was to try to get those people who just want their freedom to take care of themselves, and that’s the one that’s the least influential. Up here, it’s the people who want stuff and who get the benefits by just lobbying for those things that they want.

Interviewer: Another thing you mentioned in your farewell speech is your belief that we need to build coalitions, not necessarily reach compromises. And I wonder if you think your beliefs could be a 51% coalition in your lifetime, or in what timeframe?

Ron Paul: I think if I talk to a crowd of people, no matter which crowd, and say, “Do you believe in the free enterprise system, that people should be able to work and have their earning?” they say, “Yea, I believe that”. And if I asked, “Do you believe that your privacy should be protected, that the government shouldn’t be in your bedroom, that they shouldn’t be spying on you?” people would agree. And, most of the time when I asked, “Do you think we should be the policeman of the world?” they say, “No”. But when it comes to the particulars, they don’t stick with it, and they say, “Yes, but go too far, you want too much freedom”.

Interviewer: Well, this is another thing you touched on in that speech, you said this idea of liberty is popular, has been popular, so why doesn’t it win. It’s kind of a question that you didn’t fully answer in that speech, why do you think it doesn’t win?

Ron Paul: Not a lot of people talk about it, and I did try to explain it in the speech, in that, the concern about freedom was lost because freedom creates so much prosperity, that people get complacent. Then they become materialistic, and all they can deal with is redistribution and they find that with the government, you can make more money by getting a contract from the government than by being a genius and being productive. You know, when I first came here in 1976, I think I was under the impression that if you talk about welfare, you’re talking about those people who won’t work and get food stamps. But I have a very different opinion now. That exists, and it’s not healthy, but that’s minor compared to the food stamps the wealthy get. The wealthy get the contracts and the special deals, and that’s where I think the biggest trouble is.

Interviewer: That’s a way of speaking that most Republicans don’t usually engage in. Your son, the senator from Kentucky, Rand Paul, said recently that the Republican Party is in danger of becoming a dinosaur.

Ron Paul: Yea, but I think the whole government and the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are all dinosaurs.

Interviewer: What’s the future of the Republican Party, though?

Ron Paul: Well, the same as the Democratic Party. The principles are dinosaurs. The parties are going to linger because they’re locked in by law. You know, we’re not allowed to compete, the laws are biased against us from competing. And if you go third-party, you can’t get in the debates and you can’t get on ballots.

Interviewer: You talk about the grip of that two-party system, did you seriously consider running as an independent for President in 2012?

Ron Paul: No.

Interviewer: You didn’t consider it because it’s not practical?

Ron Paul: Not practical, absolutely not practical. Because this would have been a good year to have an alternative, and you can’t get much of a showing either on the Libertarian side or the Green side.

Interviewer: So then, how do we get out of this system, what do us see as the answer to this, or do we just keep bumping along with the way things are? You can’t believe that, that would make you too sad.

Ron Paul: No, you go to the campuses, you rally the young people, and you stir up a whole generation of people. Ideas do have consequences, and that’s where the good news is, because the campuses are alive and well with these views and they know the system is bankrupt. And there is this illusion that you can spend endlessly and print endlessly, and there will always be credit out there. And so far so good, but credit can end quickly, the dollar can crash quickly, and a new system will have to be developed.

Interviewer: One last thing, where do you pride yourself?

Ron Paul: Nothing in particular, other than the fact that the people say, “One thing we can say about you is that you are very consistent”, and they say this in a very nice way.

Interviewer: And you’ve changed the discussion in this country, you must be proud of that.

Ron Paul: Yea, that would be nice, time will tell. But what I always get a charge out of is when they’re so nice and they say, “This is good, you’re very consistent”, they must say to themselves, “But I’m always inconsistent”, and that’s wonderful. And they run the show, I never ran anything, I was just bubbling along here when it came to legislation. So the people who, in a way, admit they’re inconsistent, get to run the Legislative System.

Interviewer: Thank you so much for your time, we really appreciate it.

The young Principled based Americans will soon kick the Party based DemocRAT / RepubliCONs ass who hides behind GovernMental Union WELFARE paid for through the YOUNG or is it all just a counterfeited cartel

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=KaptainKanada Kaptain Kanada

You’re too dimwitted to grasp the subtleties even when they aren’t subtle. So Hitler and Stalin had the same ideology and policies, right, Sparky?!
You’re too stupid to have opinions. Go read a comic book.
End of communications.

Like or Dislike:10

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=aatayyab aatayyab

Brook said that encouraging and motivating (sort of rewarding) farewell words “You changed the discussion”. That’s how journalists should be i.e. respectful, encouraging and meaningful, not like the ones today who sort of try to specialize in some sort of mass murder investigatory techniques, asking those horrible and negative questions. Journalism needs a new, better, positive and professional direction in schools.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=aatayyab aatayyab

Very true Jordan… but then there is always an open bidding process when it comes to awarding Government projects. However, since not everyone (a common American) has the sort of resources, qualifications or references which are usually a pre-requisite for any such Govt contract, Ron Paul makes sense in that. But then I’d not want to award contract to just “anybody” unless they have certain resources, etc. Would you?

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=aatayyab aatayyab

Guys like Ron Paul in USA are the reason USA stays amongst the top destinations for migration for all those educated, talented and bright people around the world. One day, America will be no more a military industrial complex as global military complexes will continue expanding. And then will be the time to reap the fruits of true “American Spirit” like Ron Paul said. That day will come but it requires patience for Americans, alas that comes only through spiritual journeys.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=vinny1010 vinny1010

I think Ron Paul should really appreciate what he has done and has and continues to spread. He has done more than what he gives himself credit for.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=JordanMusselman Jordan Musselman

Best Part 2:40

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=blink180heights blink180heights

He is the reincarnation of Thomas Paine.

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jim

Lost faith in this world. It’s a complete mess, and just gets worse. Pray that higher beings or God or both get us out of here, and leave this earth for good. The warmongers and greed barons can have it. Get the rest of us out of here. Come one, Ron, lead the way home. This place is for the truly lost. Let ’em have it. I’m onto praying for release for everyone sick and tired of trying to get through to those that just create more and more suffering for everyone but themselves.

Like or Dislike:60

Dean Palmer

Sorry Jim,– God, Aliens, or whatever will not be coming to our aid – not this time. The problems we face are vastly complicated an deeply rooted in ancient human instincts, ritual and culture, and although they served us well when we were wandering about the savannas and forests of this planet, these same “survival skills” do us a tremendous disservice today as we try to live and coexist together in organized societies. The results of greed and the lust for wealth, power and control, plus greedy agenda-driven politicians working in governments that are in bed with multinational corporations, banks, and the planet’s wealthiest families have led us to the place we are today. As our country and the surrounding world tears itself to pieces, the vast majority of humans just sit home content to watch their football games, American Idol, and the other mindless commercial broadcasts. People are more interested in watching King of the Hill and pay more attention to what Oprah did today than to what’s going on in Washington D.C.. And on top of all this we have global religious conflicts as old as the human race where every religion on the planet absolutely believes that theirs is the “REAL” deal; theirs is the only true God. Everyone else is either an infidel or a heathen. It’s “Us verses Them”. And of course God is going to come down here and save us, right. I doubt it! And if “He” did save us, what lessons would we learn? Unfortunately, history clearly shows that “God” has never ever “saved” the world, but for those with a religious bent, it sure as hell has taken the credit for destroying it a time or two with floods, famines, plagues, etc. So far, we haven’t ever been “saved” by any god, but more people have been assaulted, tortured and murdered from religious persecution over the centuries than from any wars or natural disasters. Study the past 5000 years of world history and you will see. Indeed, if we want to be “saved” we as a society and World Family will need to wake up and pay attention and shed the petty human biases and antiquated habits and instincts. Everyone needs to realize that we are all on the same side here. It’s just a little planet and unfortunately we all have to live upon it – or die. God – in whatever form one chooses to believe, has already given us the tools and wisdom we need to accomplish this. As said in at least three of the world’s great religious books,” The truth has been written upon their hearts”. Our DNA has already been coded and the programs of morality, cooperation, decency and integrity have already been written and should be running to guide us. But we as a human society have to carry them out. The choice is ours. There will be no cavalry riding over the mountain to save us. The Creator will help us where needed, but We must do the work to save ourselves. It is We who must figure things out and learn to get along. The lessons are difficult and nothing would ever be learned if aliens or God comes to our rescue. It can be no other way.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=d082088 d082088

Besides him touring and speaking on the college circuit, I SURE HOPE they can get the RonPaul TV internet TV show going !! That would be wonderful !!

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=410cryptic 410cryptic

soldierhugs[dot]com

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TPizzle83 TPizzle83

Dumb fuck.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=TPizzle83 TPizzle83

They’ve got every fucking thing he said coming to them, jokes on them.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ironlamb ironlamb

Hate leads to suffering.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ironlamb ironlamb

The pain of learning the truth from Dr. Paul

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=ironlamb ironlamb

That would be freaking awesome.

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=bkl139 bkl139

I don’t understand why so many dislike Ron Paul. I sometimes wonder if they know why they hate him.

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Dan

They dislike or hate him because they have no understanding.

They also lack widsom.

Widsom and understanding come from above! (GOD).

Save our Republic

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Dan

Sorry about the spelling: Widsom should read: Wisdom

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http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=marauder15 marauder15

Ron Paul is a man who was ahead of its time.
He CAN solve the problems, not just talking about them.
That is why in my country people not even heard of him, total media blackout.

Who is this interviewer? He was desperately trying to bait Ron Paul into naming AIPAC as the “most damaging special interest group.” The astute Dr. Paul didn’t fall for it. Although he’s retiring from public politics, he still has to remain a statesman or he’ll “discredit” himself and the Liberty movement. Too bad, because I wish he could just tell it like it is about Israel, 9/11 Truth, the Federal Reserve, the NAU, so many NWO issues where truth is officially forbidden.

11:52 am: "Yes I know brother that he ran as a republican, it is sad enought that he not can run as an LIBERTARIAN. I truly hope he’s gonna run again. We can only support him..." - knowitall

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